Arranged To Be|18+✔️

Epilogue

One year later

"Put that down, Wen," I said, gently taking the toy from his hand as he attempted to shove the entire thing into his mouth.

We'd started calling Owen "Wen" after he was born, and now he barely even responded to his full name. He looked up at me with big brown eyes, half-confused, half-amused, before plopping onto the floor with a loud thud.

"Ma, ma, ma," Oliver called, waddling toward me on unsteady legs.

Czar trailed behind him, diaper in hand, looking more like the toddler's assistant than a full-grown man.

The boys were the perfect mix of us. They had Czar's rich brown hair and my soft curls, my freckles dusted across golden skin, his dimples, and my eyes. Tall for their age, thanks to their giant of a father, and already showing signs of vastly different personalities.

Oliver was the strong-willed one. He hated being babied and threw tantrums if we helped him too much. He was headstrong and oddly independent, especially for a one-year-old. Wen, on the other hand, was attached to my hip like he'd been sewn there. He needed comfort, closeness, and constant attention. A full-blown mama's boy.

"He won't let me change him," Czar said, scooping Oliver off the ground as the boy began kicking and screaming.

I took him from Czar with practiced ease and carried him to the changing table.

"We should just start potty training him. He hates diapers anyway," I suggested.

"Isn't that too early?"

"Not for Oliver. He wants to do everything on his own. I think it'll give him more confidence."

Czar glanced toward Wen, who was now in a deep squat, his tongue hanging out dramatically while slobber dripped from his bottom lip. He made this face every time he was working on a number two.

"Yeah... no," Czar said.

"Agreed," I chuckled.

Once Oliver was cleaned up, he toddled over and plopped beside his brother, babbling in half-formed words as they pushed toy trucks around. Their bottles lay forgotten beside them, occasionally picked up and traded mid-sip.

"How was work?" I asked, wiping my hands on a towel.

"Busy, but productive. How was the boutique?"

"We booked five weddings and a sweet sixteen this week. The schedule is filling up fast."

He walked over and kissed my forehead, wrapping his arms around me. "I'm so proud of you."

We stood like that for a while, swaying gently in the middle of the room while the twins babbled in the background. These moments, quiet, simple, shared, were the ones I treasured the most.

"I love you," he whispered, planting another kiss on my cheek.

"I love you more," I replied.

He pulled back just slightly, eyebrows raised as I reached into my pocket.

"What's that?"

I showed him the pregnancy test I'd been hiding for days. His mouth dropped open.

"How far along?"

"Six weeks."

He let out a breathless laugh, then kissed me again. "Girl this time?"

"Hopefully."

We turned our eyes to the twins, who had now fallen asleep on the floor, bottles tangled in each other's arms. I smiled at the sight, two little souls so connected yet so opposite.

Oliver stirred in his sleep, a small twitch rippling down his arm. He did that sometimes. Dr. White said it could be something called sensory processing issues, something to watch as he grew. Nothing serious yet, but enough that we kept our eyes open.

Czar noticed too. He rubbed my back. "He'll be okay."

"I know," I whispered. And I did. Because we were in this together.

Later that night, with the boys tucked into bed and the fire softly crackling in the living room, Czar and I curled up on the couch, watching a cheesy rom-com we'd already seen ten times. My head was on his chest, his arm wrapped around me.

And I couldn't help but think about what life would've been like if I'd never met him. I didn't want to know. Because everything we went through-the pain, the joy, the growth—led us here.

And it felt right.

It felt like fate.

As if we were arranged to be together.

~*~

And that wraps up this book. I love you all and hoped you enjoyed it. Down below are short blurbs of the books I am currently working on. I am taking a break from Mafia books for a bit but I hope you like these ones just as much. As always, until next time my lovelies. (Continue to next part for more information about spin off series)

Side Note: The Baby is a girl